One of the hardest jobs during a movie production is that of the casting director. It’s their responsibility to find the right actor to play every part.
A miscast actor can ruin a movie, regardless of its initial promise. At the same time, a perfectly cast role can elevate a film to be greater than the sum of its parts. Today, we look closer at some of the best examples of perfect casting in a movie.
J.K. Simmons – J. Jonah Jameson, Spider-Man
J.K. Simmons is everything we ever imagined a real-life J. Jonah Jameson to be. Loud, brash, abrasive, confident yet guarded, and unintentionally funny.
He did such a good job during the Sam Raimi Spider-Man movies that he was brought back to play the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Jeff Bridges – The Dude, The Big Lebowski
From loud and brash to cool and confident, Jeff Bridges is the epitome of everything The Dude lives by.
His voice has a calming confidence about him that ties everything together. It’s impossible to picture anyone else in the role.
Daniel Day-Lewis – Daniel Plainview, There Will Be Blood
Daniel Plainview is one of the most commanding and intimidating characters in cinematic history, and only someone like Daniel Day-Lewis has the talent to pull him off.
Day-Lewis is able to portray both sides of Planview: the successful salesman and the scheming psychopath who always comes out on top. He is everything great about this movie, and no one else could ever come close.
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Christian Bale – Patrick Bateman, American Psycho
Younger audiences may only know Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne, but Patrick Bateman is his defining role.
He just looks the part so well, capturing the essence of a 1980s New York City investment banker. Bateman’s talent does an excellent job of perfectly capturing Bateman’s descent into madness as well, particularly during the iconic business card scene.
Christoph Waltz – Hans Landa, Inglorious Basterds
You know you’ve nailed a casting when a previously unknown actor, who wasn’t in any of the pre-release trailers, steals the show.
Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds is the mainstream world’s introduction to Christoph Waltz, and what an introduction it is. Tarantino’s films have been littered with iconic actors and roles, but no one can come close to Waltz’s Hans Landa.
Javier Bardem – Anton Chigurh, No Country For Old Men
Speaking of relatively unknown actors, Javier Bardem burst onto the scene as Anton Chigurh in the Academy Award-winning No Country for Old Men.
Woody Harrelson’s characters said it best, comparing Chigurh to the Bubonic Plague. There are plenty of frightening characters in movie history, one of which in particular we’ll talk about next, but every scene Bardem is in is incredibly tense.
Anthony Hopkins – Hannibal Lecter, The Silence of the Lambs
The Hannibal Lecter character only works if the actor portraying him can combine intelligence with a sense of dread and uneasiness.
That’s exactly what Hopkins does with the role. We can tell how brilliant and well-traveled Lecter is, but we also easily pick up that he’s a complete psychopath who should be feared.
Sylvester Stallone – Rocky, Rocky
Stallone serves as the writer and star of Rocky, but United Artists wanted someone else for the lead role.
It doesn’t work without Stallone playing Rocky, though. It’s a role he was born to play. You can’t help but root for him as the underdog.
Kathy Bates – Annie Wilkes, Misery
There are few people in the world capable of putting the fear of God into James Caan. The list begins, and arugably ends, with Kathy Bates.
Her performance as Annie Wilkes in the Stephen King adaptation of Misery rightfully won her an Academy Award for Best Actress. Even if you know how the story goes, you need to watch the film for Bates’ performance alone.
Johnny Depp – Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean
This is one example where I was wrong about this casting. I remember when Pirates was set to release. It was fresh off the hype from Lord of the Rings, and I felt like we were about to have Orlando Bloom shoved down our throats.
I was wrong. It was Johnny Depp o’clock. He is Captain Jack Sparrow, the greatest pirate the world has ever seen.
Margot Robbie – Harley Quinn, Multiple Movies
There were a lot of things wrong with the DC Extended Universe, but the one thing it got right was casting Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn.
From her iconic accent to her mannerisms, she is the perfect actress to play the popular comic character. Her strong performance meant she played the role multiple times. Don’t be surprised if she continues to play the role should the character return in the James Gunn DC Universe.
R. Lee Ermy – Gunnery Sergeant L. Hartman, Full Metal Jacket
It makes sense that Ermy was perfectly cast as Gunnery Sergeant L. Hartman: he’s a former U.S. Marine and drill instructor!
Ermery delivered an authentic performance in Full Metal Jacket that no one else could have delivered.
Robert Downey Jr. – Tony Stark, Iron Man
There was no one else in the world who could have ever played Tony Stark on the big screen.
Robert Downey Jr.’s history nearly mirrors that of Tony Stark.
Macaulay Culkin – Kevin McCallister, Home Alone
Home Alone has become a Christmas tradition in many households, including mine. One big reason? Kevin McAllister.
Macaulay Culkin’s ability to successfully break the fourth wall on several occasions while also portraying the confidence to stand up to Marv and Harry wouldn’t work with anyone else in the role.
Gene Wilder – Willy Wonka, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Gene Wilder isn’t the only actor to have ever played Willy Wonka on the big screen, but he’s the most iconic.
The musical numbers, the nonchalant attitude, the eccentric personality, it’s all Gene Wilder at his very best.
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